The position of Israeli “doves” and who they are was explained in a letter published in the New York Times today by Simah Flagman, a leading member of Madam (United Workers Party) in Israel. According to the writer, so-called “doves” in Israel cover “a broad spectrum of liberal and religious professors, labor intellectuals. Socialists of Madam who, while differing on details, contest the official Israeli policy on essential points.” “When it comes to security,” Mr. Flagman wrote, “the doves no less than the hawks, oppose unilateral withdrawal without a peace settlement or a peace settlement without guarantees. The doves are against a policy of ‘faits accomplish’–establishment of Jewish civilian settlements in the occupied areas–but they approve of military installations necessary for war.”
Mr. Flapan, who edits the English-language monthly “New Outlook” in Tel Aviv, said Israeli “doves” demand clear and unequivocal acceptance of the Security Council’s Nov. 22, 1967 resolution “implemented as an indivisible whole” but “oppose insistence on ‘direct negotiations’ not because this is morally wrong but because it is unrealistic. They recognize the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination and they demand immediate unilateral steps by Israel for rehabilitation of the Palestinian refugees.”
(A veteran Zionist leader in London today rapped one of Israel’s leading “hawks.” Dr. S. Levenberg, chairman of the Eretz Israel Committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and a long time representative of the Jewish Agency in Europe, said his committee was “astonished” to read a statement by the Israeli Minister of Transport, Gen. Ezer Weizman that what some people called occupied territories was part of “Zion” and must be retained permanently by Israel. The Zionist leader acknowledged that Gen. Weizman’s statement represented his personal opinion but said it helped those who are trying to confuse world opinion about Israel’s intentions.)
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